The way the retail sector in the United Arab Emirates has emerged and transformed by continually upscaling itself is exemplary

1. BFL GROUP
Toufic Kreidieh | Chief Executive Officer
UAE's Best
Retail
Companies
2021
Acknowledging Change
Cashier-less stores:
the next big step for
the retail industry
Timeless Tech
The impact of
modern technology
on the retail sector
vol 04
ISSUE 07

4. The way the retail sector in the United Arab
Emirates has emerged and transformed by
continually upscaling itself is exemplary.
Once known for its oil reserves and dry fruits, the
UAE has matured dramatically in the retail sector.
It is not just the local retail houses but even many
global retail giants who have tried their luck in the
Arab Emirates and have been remarkably
successful.
Petroleum and natural gas still contribute largely to
the economy of the UAE, but it has diversified its
businesses and subsequently its economy. This
thirst to diversify and multiply its economy,
particularly in the retail sector, has made the entire
world look up to the Emirates. It has adapted to
digital platforms quickly and competently
recognising the need of the hour.
There are many favourable factors that have aided
in the success of this diversification. One, the UAE
has a robust economy that is always on the rise and
some amount of negative growth hardly has a
negative impact. It is for the same reason that the
retail marked too is thriving and can afford a slight
downslide as the market will not exactly face an
adverse effect. Second, a stable government and
healthy policies have contributed to a gigantic
extent. Third, there are no trade unions. Add to
EDITOR’S DESK
Retail Sector in UAE:
Creating a Benchmark
BFL GROUP
Toufic Kreidieh | Chief Executive Officer
UAE's Best
Retail
Companies
2021
Acknowledging Change
Cashier-less stores:
the next big step for
the retail industry
Timeless Tech
The impact of
modern technology
on the retail sector
2021
vol 04
ISSUE 07

5. these, an unparalleled infrastructure, efficient logistics
and customs services, excellent tracking, and tracing
systems. The UAE also has the advantage of a growing
tourism industry.
With advancements in technology retailers in the UAE
have embraced the new ways of conducting business to
meet the demands of the consumers at local and global
level. And technology has definitely proved to be most
advantageous during these trying times of the pandemic.
Technology percolated deep into the retail market of late
with many brick and mortar retailers also shifting to the
new market dynamics. E-commerce platforms are getting
lot of attention by retailers in the UAE, and this will only
surge with time.
The Emirates provides a huge range of choices with
respect to brands. Franchisees to international brands
have also made available a myriad of options for the
consumer of today who settle for nothing below
standards. International conglomerates coupled with
local retail tycoons have been creating waves in the retail
sector of UAE. Food retail has the largest share while the
apparel, footwear, beauty and cosmetics are some of
strongest retail products flourishing at exponential rates.
According to a study conducted couple of years ago, the
UAE retail market was valued at $55 billion in 2019 and
it is estimated to reach up to $75 billion by 2025.
As a mark of admiration for the success of UAE’s retail
sector, we chose some companies that stand tall in this
sector making its presence felt on the global map. We
featured them in this special edition – UAE’s Best Retail
Companies 2021.
Have an amazing read!
Sumita Sarkar

6. BFL
Group
On the Path to Unprecedented Global Success
08 C O V E R S T O R Y
C
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24
30
Article
Acknowledging
Change
Cashier-ls stores:
the next big step for
the retail industry
Timeless Tech
The impact of
modern technology
on the retail sector

7. 16
Circle K
Catering World Class Service
with High Quality Products
20
Jashanmal Group
A Legacy of Reliability,
Empowering the
International Retail Sector
28
Microless
Tailoring Tech Solutions
with Ease and Expertise
34
Sawaya International LLC
A Leading Player in
Global Retail Space

8. sales@insightssuccess.com
April, 2021
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Senior Editor
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Assistant Technical Head
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9. Management Brief
Company Name
Laurent Guitart
CEO
Jashanmal Group
jashanmalgroup.com
Microless
uae.microless.com
BFL Group
bflgroup.ae
Gadgetby
gadgetby.com
Circle K
circlek.ae
The BFL Group is one of the world’s leading off-price retailer of fashion
and homeware offering up to 80% off the original price for fashion
designer brands. Its unique business model - Brands for Less, driven by
optimized rapid-purchase strategies, became a phenomenon across the
Middle East.
Circle K is one of the world's largest convenience store operators
founded in 1951 in Texas, USA, and quickly expanded
internationally, offering an expansive range of consumer brands and
provides services to commercial and residential communities.
Gadgetby is one of the most popular online shopping
destinations in UAE, offering a wide range of the latest gadgets
at a competitive price coupled with exceptional service.
Consolidating years of experience, Gadgetby strives to achieve
the highest levels of customer satisfaction.
The Jashanmal Group is one of the leading trading, distribution,
and retail companies in the Middle East with more than 100
internationally curated brands and 30+ exclusive labels. The
group's retail operations span over 150 stores in the UAE, Kuwait,
Bahrain, Oman, and India.
Microless is one of the biggest computer parts and gaming PCs
retailer and e-commerce store in the middle east, along with
two physical stores, which offers custom gaming PCs building,
computer trouble-shooting and repair services too.
Toufic Kreidieh
CEO & Director
Usama Bagsiraj
CEO
Khaled Soliman
Founder
Maksim Nadzhar
CEO
Sara Group Holding
saragroups.com
Top Rock Interiors
toprockinteriors.com
Milano Group
milanogrp.com
With over 20 years of experience in providing total Below-the-
line solutions, Milano Group is a household name led by a team
of young energetic people who have deep knowledge of
consumer's passions and aspirations.
The Sara Group is a marketing organisation providing
comprehensive 'Retail and Distribution' services in Saudi
Arabia and UAE, providing world-class retail, distribution,
business consultancy services and more.
Top Rock Interiors is a leader in the interior fit-out industry
which advises, designs, develops, manufactures, and installs
interior works for its clientele in retail, food & beverage,
leisure, fashion, and commercial sectors - from single-trade
jobs to turnkey solutions, for new builds and renovations.
Rizwan Ahmed Qureshi
CEO
Tushar Singh
CEO
S.C. Suresh Babu
CEO
Sedar Global
sedarglobal.com
Sedar Global is an illustrious company that has been around for
over 125 years and now is present in over 10 countries with 22
branches all ready to serve households with the highest quality,
durable, and fashionable solutions.
Bashar Selo
CEO
Sawaya
sawayagroup.com
Sawaya Group is among the leading distributors and developers
of beauty products in the Middle East which sports an inspiring
team of creators, designers and innovators in the cosmetic
industry. Sawaya operates to serve customers needs as well as
fill gaps of demand in the market constantly.
Fadi Sawaya
CEO

10. BFL
Group
On the Path to Unprecedented Global Success
C O V E R S T O R Y
“
Every BFL store visit is an
experience, a treasure hunt
with the latest innovative
products, items and gadgets
waiting to be discovered.

11. Toufic Kreidieh Chief Executive Officer
|

12. For any retailer, an enhanced
shopping experience based on
price and quality is a priority
for customer retention and sustaining
the brand value. These aspects are
directly related to purchases, be it
clothing or grocery, especially at
physical stores.
This edition, UAE's Best Retail
Companies 2021, brings into spotlight,
innovative retail companies that have
ingrained their value propositions
within the needs of their customers,
seeking to become the most sought-
after retail brands in the UAE.
One prominent name among such
companies is the BFL (Brands for
Less) Group, a leading off-price
retailer of fashion, home ware, and
toys. The group has expanded its
business with more than 74 stores
spread across six countries in the
Middle East and Europe.
The goal is to prioritize customer
satisfaction by integrating innovation at
the very heart of what the company
does, according to the BFL Group's
business model.
“Our retail model makes every BFL
store visit into an experience, a treasure
hunt with the latest innovative
products, items and gadgets waiting to
be discovered. Customers love the fact
that they can always find new products
on shelves at exceptional value and
great bargains with in our large
selection of categories,” says Nathalie
Hamad, Retail Manager at BFL Group.
The BFL Group offers a wide variety
of off-price fashion and home ware
products and toys from more than
4,000 designer brands. The company
offers high-end luxury brands at a
discount of up to 80 per cent of the
original retail price.
Apart from a strong business culture,
the BFL Group believes in leading by
example. For instance, the company
provides comfortable environment for
the employees; focuses on enhancing
their sense of belonging; and
recognizes their contributions to the
organization.
“Having employees who engage with
the company, has helped us become
who we are today. Due to the efforts
that we have put in over the years, we
UAE's Best Retail Companies 2021

13. have managed to become a leading
player in the region (off-price
industry). Moreover, the success
formula of our business model is to
provide our customers a string of daily
new arrivals, exclusive items and
treasure hunt. Who doesn't love a great
deal?”says Toufic Kreidieh, Chief
Executive Officer of the BFL Group.
A Strong Foundation
Kreidieh has been serving as CEO at
BFL Group since the company's
inception. He is an entrepreneur and
businessman, renowned for
establishing the BFL (Brands for
Less) Group alongside the Managing
Partner and Co-Founder,Yasser
Beydoun.
The two entrepreneurs started this
enterprise with their flagship concept
“
The success formula of our
business model is to offer our
customers well-known brands at
extremely affordable prices. Who
doesn't love a great deal?

14. 'Brands For Less' in 1996 in Lebanon.
As the business developed, they moved
the company's headquarters to Dubai,
United Arab Emirates and launched
their first store in 2000.
Today, the BFL Group has a large retail
presence in the Middle East and
Europe and has exclusive rights to
distribute several international brands.
Kreidieh and Beydoun have
successfully expanded BFL's by
creating and acquiring different
concepts like Toys For Less, Homes
For Less, Tchibo, Mumuso and Muy
Mucho, a renowned Spanish Home
décor brand which was launched
recently in the UAE.
The founders' perseverance is an
inspiration for the organisation which
comprises more than 2,500 employees
and has an e-commerce platform that is
capable of catering to customers from
all over the world.
Providing valuable advice to budding
entrepreneurs in the retail business,
Through the
course of 20
years, we have
always made
sure we keep our
customer at the
heart of
everything we
do.
“

15. Kreidieh says: “When Beydoun and I
first started, there was no other
off-price retailer in the Middle East.
Over the course of 25 years, we have
had to make sure that a customer-
centric approach continues to lead our
journey.”
“We believe the key to success,
particularly in our case, is to integrate
unique merchandise purchasing and
inventory turnover into our retail
model, creating a treasure-hunt
experience, which adds surprise
element in the shopping experience as
customers explore our new assortment,
in-store and online.”
Kreidieh further adds: “Finding out
which customer insights your business
can tap into and creating a positive
experience around them is key to
staying focused and working hard to
achieve your business vision. Many
people will say that it is impossible,
but we know that there is no gain
without pain. As we always say, the
sky is the limit.”
Overcoming Adversities
The BFL Group also experienced an
impact on its operations due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. Kreidieh says
the company's retail stores witnessed a
drop in sales last year, along with
footfall because of the lockdown and
corresponding precautionary measures.
“The fashion industry has been
substantially affected by the emergence
of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, we
were absolutely and firmly committed
to ensuring the safety, well being, and
health of all our employees and
customers, while also preserving the
sustain ability of our business during
such uncertain times. We always aim to
provide the best solution for everyone.
We are also one of the first retail
companies to have 99 per cent of its
employees vaccinated as we believe
that it is our responsibility towards the
society. Therefore, it was a Shot of
Solidarity,” he says.
In the initial days of lockdown, the
BFL Group solely relied on online
shopping and took all necessary
measures to deliver entirely safe
packages to its customers. As
governmental restrictions were
gradually lifted, a large amount of
people headed back to the malls
leading toa rise in footfall.
To ensure the steady stream of
customers, the company has adopted
the best hygiene and safety measures
across its 74 branches, warehouses,
and offices since the beginning of the
pandemic. The BFL's facilities have
been reorganised to meet the
community needs and to offer a safe
shopping experience.
Leveraging Technology
Ont he necessity of adopting and
implementing modern technologies
within a business, Kreidieh believes
that evolving with the new
Yasser Baydoun | Managing Partner

16. technologies is no longer optional.
Instead, it is essential for the
development of any business.
“Therefore, we have partnered with IQ
robotics to leverage faster turnaround,
injecting new stock into our branches.
With over 160 robots, the BFL Group's
shop fulfilment will have a processing
power of 150,000 pieces a day,”
explains Kreidieh.
With a decrease in footfall due to
COVID-19 restrictions in malls, the
BFL Group has increased investment
in e-commerce since the pandemic
began. To combat that, the company is
developing an online fulfilment centre
dedicated solely for its online orders.
With an aim to improve its
e-commerce channel, BFL believes this
new facility acquisition will have a
positive impact on the company's
revenue and online business growth.
In addition to this expansion, the BFL
Group is keen on becoming a more
sustainable organization. Therefore, the
company has recently partnered with
Al Rostamani Group and invested in a
958 KW solar project which will
generate around 1,600,000 kWh of
solar energy and save 700 metric tons
of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
“Working together to become a more
environmentally responsible
organization will help us deliver on our
promise to ensure the welfare of the
community,” says Yasser Beydoun.
Striving for Excellence
Speaking about the BFL Group's plans
on scaling its operations in 2021,
Kreidieh says it is the start of a new
adventure. “The BFL Group has
expanded into Europe, and we will be
operating four MUMUSO stores by the
end of this year in Malta. This will
pave the way for the company's growth
in more than four European countries
within the next five years.”
Moreover, the BFL Group is
determined to further grow in the
Middle East and has already started an
expansion plan that covers Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman.
Additionally, the company is also
looking forward to having its products
shipped worldwide through its
extensive e-commerce platform and
eventually become pioneers in the
online value sector.
The BFL Group acknowledges that the
overall e-commerce market, especially
the direct-to-consumer segment, is
growing exponentially. The changes
that would have taken place over a
decade are now being accommodated
in a matter of months following the
outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company has not shied away from
the challenge and is committed to
continuously adapt and expand to
successfully fulfil the growing needs of
its customers.
Moreover, the state-of-the-art
e-commerce fulfilment facility will be
built on more than 30,000 sqm of land
in order to mark BFL's presence in the
market as the company aims to go
global.
“The facility will be ready by Q1 of
2021 and we are excited to reap the
fruit of our efforts,” concludes
Kreidieh.

18. Circle K
Catering World Class Service with High Quality Products
The retail food industry has
seen a massive upsurge in the
past couple of decades and is
expected to expand even further. What
makes these retail food stores so
popular as against traditional food
stores is value for money, hygiene, and
ambience.
Convenience stores is the buzzword
today and food retailers are leaving no
stone unturned to deliver the best with
a variety of options.
We spoke to one such food retailer,
Circle K that is focused on becoming
the top convenience store. Following
are the excerpts of the interview:
Please brief our audience about your
company, its values, and how the
company has been positioned as a
leading player in the retail space.
Circle K is one of the largest food
retailers in the world and is recognized
as a Leading Global Franchise. It was
brought by Convenience Arabia in
2009, catering a unique shopping
experience for customers. We have
been awarded as Best Convenience
Retail Chain, three consecutive years
in a row - 2017, 2018 and 2019. We are
also Ranked #9 on the Top 10 Global
Franchises for 2012 by Entrepreneur
magazine, ahead of KFC, Domino's,
Dunkin' Donuts and 7-Eleven. What
makes us remarkable? It is the unique
locations that we have.
What products does your company
offer, and how are these making an
impact on the industry and your
customers?
We have got on-the-go healthy snacks,
fresh food, hot meals, beverages,
pastry items, the everyday necessities
for your family. We impact our
customers' experience by catering a
world class service and keeping the
highest quality of products with
healthy attributes for our customers.
Brief us about Laurent Guitart and
his journey in the industry, and how
they have contributed towards the
company's success.
The joining of Laurent Guitart in the
team in 2015 brought a tremendous
success for the company. He
implemented numerous positive result
programs, deep reorganization of
management team and its Company
Strategy Mission and Vision. He
improved purchase and operations
platform resulting in substantial
increase in revenue and margin and
streamlined relationship of partners
and suppliers. Under his leadership,
Circle K got awarded Best Retail
Convenience Chain in UAE for three
years in a row.
Being an experienced leader, share
with us your opinion on how the
adaptation of modern technologies
such as AI, big data and machine
learning have transformed the retail
industry and what more could be
expected in the near future?
Artificial Intelligence, big data and
machine learning help us to rethink
how we integrate information, analyze
data, and insights to improve
identifying our decision. We are forced
to adapt these changes to cope up with
the modern way of living. We can
expect that in the near future retail
stores will become unmanned and that
only machines will work for them,
such as smart vending machines.
Taking into consideration, the
current pandemic, and its impact on
global economies, how are you
driving your company to sustain
operations and ensuring safety of
your employees at the same time?
Our immediate action helped protect
the team and at the same time our
business. Always, safety comes first.
So, we implemented safety measures at
16 | April 2021 | www.insightssuccess.com

19. all our outlets and in our office. It was
a tough decision that we decided to
close some of our stores, minimizing
manpower from head office team to
operations team, requesting the
landlords for rent relief, and sending
letters to suppliers to hold their
payments and asking them to
understand the situation. It was a
horrible season for all businesses, but
that is the reality.
What would be your advice to
budding entrepreneurs who aspire to
venture into the retail space?
My advice for them is to wake up 5 am
every morning and be grateful. Learn
to adapt the changes quickly, study the
market trends and to put the customers
at the heart of the business.
How do you envision scaling your
company's operations and offerings
in 2021?
We keep showcasing great products in
front of our customers, so they cannot
resist but buy our products. At the
same time, we do sales promotions. It
has been used for decades and the
outcome was always great success.
Learn to adapt the
changes quickly,
study the market
trends and to put
the customers at
the heart of the
business.
“
“
Laurent Guitart
Chief Executive Officer
UAE's Best Retail Companies 2021
17 | April 2021 | www.insightssuccess.com

22. These words by Brazilian mixed Martial Artists Vitor
Belfort stand true to Rao Sahib Jashanmal, who by
founding in 1919, left a legacy
Jashanmal Group
behind, which has become a global name catering to clients
and creating job opportunities across different countries.
Since its inception, Jashanmal Group has been a reliable
partner in retail space for international fashion and
footwear, travel gear, home appliances, and publishing
companies seeking an opportunity to enter the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Today, the group's
retail operations span over 150 stores in the UAE, Kuwait,
Bahrain, Oman, and India. Our distribution network extends
to more than 1,000 outlets.
Furthermore, under the leadership of CEO Khaled
Soliman and with the strong support of a proprietary
logistics network that manages freight-forwarding,
warehousing, regional, and international supply chains,
Jashanmal Group has established itself as an equity partner
in several regional joint ventures.
“At the heart of our new value creation strategy is our
innovative philosophy of transforming relationships into
partnerships," says Khaled, "We are closely working with
international business partners in the premium and luxury
sectors to help build brands in the GCC region through our
retail operations and extensive distribution and wholesale
network."
Read the following interview where Khaled Soliman shares
the success saga of Jashanmal Group also how the company
came out strong while facing the challenges during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
What products does the Jashanmal Group offer, and
how are these making an impact on the industry and
your customers?
We offer a wide selection of premium and high-quality
goods from appliances and luggage to home, beauty, books,
and fashion. There has been a shift in consumer behavior,
customers are focusing more on self-care and are looking
for products that create value in their lives. During the
recent pandemic, our appliances were in demand, there is a
strong emphasis on health and wellbeing.
Being an experienced leader, share with us your opinion
on how the adaptation of modern technologies such as
AI, Big Data, and Machine Learning has transformed
the retail industry and what more could be expected in
the future?
AI, Big Data, and ML adoption are reshaping the retail
industry across inventory planning, supply chain
management, and customer data management. We can now
create better demand forecasting models using Big Data and
AI to mine granular insights from trading patterns,
consumer behavior, competitor activities, and make
proactive changes to our marketing, merchandising, and
pricing strategies.
AI and Big Data are also playing a significant part in our
communications with customers whereby we can
personalize CRM strategies and tailor offers and
promotions based on customer demands.
Jashanmal Group
A Legacy of Reliability, Empowering the International Retail Sector
“Legacy is not what I did for myself. It's what I'm doing for the next generation.”
UAE’s Best Retail Companies 2021
20 | April 2021 | www.insightssuccess.com

23. About the leader
Since the day Khaled Soliman joined the Jashanmal Group his mandate
was to turn around the organization and march along with the next
century. His vision to work towards transforming the company to be
compatible in an increasingly digital environment, all the while
ensuring the best possible in-store and online shopping experience has
led Jashanmal Group to new heights.
Khaled developed and implemented the necessary strategies required to
innovate from the inside and roll out fully immersive technology-driven
retail spaces. Jashanmal Group launched its e-commerce business
during the pandemic and in less than a year it has contributed 3-4% of
the turnover.ss
At the heart
of our new
value creation
strategy is our innovative
philosophy of transforming
relationships
into partnerships.
“
“
Khaled Soliman
CEO of Jashanmal Group
21 | April 2021 | www.insightssuccess.com

24. With more maturity of these technologies in the future, we
expect their adoption to be the norm rather than a choice.
Retailers not integrating these technologies run the risk of
losing market share.
We can expect more personalization in assortment,
promotions, and experiences based on customer personas
built on ML and Big Data in both stores and online.
Interactive chat, guided discovery, and conversational
support will play a bigger role in traditional customer-
facing roles. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has already
been a catalyst to this change due to physical distancing.
But I think in the short term, Supply Chain Management
will be the biggest benefactor of these technologies, as we
should see time and material spillovers reduce, with more
accurate demand and delay forecasting.
Taking into consideration, the current pandemic, and its
impact on global economies, how are you driving your
company to sustain operations and ensuring the safety
of your employees at the same time?
For businesses, there have been many lessons to be learned.
Just like every other company we had to control our cost
structure especially when operating remotely which has
become a new normal with various segments of the
businesses being more virtually connected now than ever
before.
The pandemic has accelerated the growth of e-commerce,
contactless purchases, service, and digital payment
platforms. We are now more agile and confident in
contactless and virtual interaction across all areas of service
and business.
The safety of our employees is our priority. We continue to
provide an environment that respects the best and highest
occupational health and safety standards as per the U.A.E
guidelines. Regular disinfection of the office spaces,
maintaining social distancing, and flexibility to work from
home are some of the key measures that have been
undertaken by the Jashanmal Group.
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs
who aspire to venture into the retail space?
The retail space is dynamic. It is constantly evolving. It is
important to know your business well and have a long-term
vision. I would strongly recommend the young aspirants to
test the market for their product portfolio through different
options pre-committing to any retail space investment.
Retail spaces are not easy to maintain and can be quite a
drain on your expense account.
How do you envision scaling your company's operations
and offerings in 2021?
Today Jashanmal Group stands at a cusp of expansion and
innovation and we all have exciting times ahead of us. We
live in a data-driven world that requires digital dexterity
and customer-first innovation, changing the status quo and
an entire culture to prioritize long-term digital
transformation is like trying to solve a Rubik's Cube on a
rollercoaster.
For us, digital will continue to spearhead. We are making
our divisions lean, efficient, and technology-focused and are
constantly revisiting our product portfolio and offerings.
22 | April 2021 | www.insightssuccess.com

26. Cashier-less stores
the next big step for the retail industry
Imagine it’s a Saturday or a Sunday morning, you’ve just woken up after having an exhausting previous day at the
office. You realise, today you do not have any pressure or deadlines or any work calls that require to be attended. In
fact, you can just relax the entire day, make plans with friends, and enjoy your day.
However, it is the only day you are free to finish up on some household or personal chores like, grocery shopping. So, you
think to yourself, “okay no problem. I shall make a quick trip to the store and be back in a jiffy to enjoy the rest of my day”.
You reach the store; you pick up whatever stuff you need and proceed towards the check out. And bam! You see a huge line
ahead of you of people standing with tons of items required to be checked out.
The rest of that day flashes before your eyes, you wonder what time you will get home, how much time you will have to
relax before you have to go to sleep in order to be back at work the next day, and that entire feeling you got as soon as you
woke up earlier that day, slowly starts to drift away.
Sounds exhausting, sad, and disheartening, doesn’t it? Well, you don’t have to be worried about that anymore.
Thanks to technology constantly evolving and being upgraded to
suit the needs and requirements of humans through AI and
machine learning, there is now technology that will help
you walk into the store, pick up your items and walk
out without having the need to stand in a queue and
wait for the cashier to bill your items.
“Shoplifting?”, that is where your mind
24 | April 2021 | www.insightssuccess.com

27. wandered off to first didn’t it? Unfortunately for all the
kleptomaniacs out there, no, this is not about shoplifting.
Technology has now contributed towards the innovation
and implementation of ‘cashier-less’ stores. With machine
learning, algorithms run by artificial intelligence, data
analytics and computer vision, brick and mortar stores now
allow a digitalised user experience for customers who visit
their stores.
By offering an omnichannel experience at every touch point
to the customers, here is how the stores that adopt this
technology function:
Ÿ Smartphone Application – In order to enter a cashier-
less store, you will be required to have a smart phone
with a particular app that will need to scan a provided
QR code. On scanning this QR code, your information
will automatically be registered in the data base of the
store.
This also analyses your shopping pattern and in turn is able
to provide you recommendations on their behalf with
respect to the same. Once you are done with shopping, this
same digital platform will charge the bill to your phone app
once you leave the store and leaves you with a cashier-less
shopping experience.
Ÿ Sensors – The one thing that is imperative for you to
know before entering a cashier store is that everything is
being monitored and recorded. From every step you take
to every item you touch, there are cameras and sensors
all over the place to know exactly what item you have
chosen or even displaced for that matter and will report
and record it back to the CPUs.
These sensors are also able to sense the weight of an item.
These measures while updating the store on the items in
your basket also help regulate any “funny” activities trying
to be pulled by the customers.
Why should stores consider the option of a cashier-less
store?
The primary reason for stores to adopt the cashier-less
experience is profit. Even though, the process of
implementing a cashier-less store will be expensive, the
return on it will be manifold.
These stores will generate more sales and revenue as
customers will not be required to stand in line and have to
scan each of their items and wait for the bill to be
generated. The process is simple; customers pick up their
items, and the bill is automatically generated and requests
payment from whichever digital wallet the customer has
connected to the stores app.
Getting the whole frustrating process of waiting in lines out
of the way, this cashier-less digitalised payment option will
definitely generate more sales.
Using this technology, the stores will be able to use lesser
resources and also reduce staffing requirements and that
naturally increases the amount the store makes on every
payment.
Is it completely smooth flowing?
The stores who choose to adopt this technology and
implement a cashier-less experience will naturally hold
certain advantages over the normal stores that haven’t.
However, this technology has its drawbacks:
Ÿ The fact that in order to enter the store, you will require
to have the store app downloaded on your phone along
with digital wallets in order to complete the entire
shopping process, is in itself a drawback as not every
person is technologically savvy and don’t necessarily
possess the digital wallet apps. For first time shoppers,
who aren’t aware to the proper process this will be to be
difficult.
Ÿ Cashier-less stores take the entire customer-sales rep
interaction out of the picture. Therefore, for certain
products that a customer may need particular
information on might pose to be an issue if there won’t
be a store representative around. Hence, there will
always be a requirement for manual staff to be present.
In conclusion, cashier-less stores will definitely change the
entire dynamics of the retail industry. The option of
generating more profits through sales and less resources is a
major influential factor.
Adopting this technology most certainly has its drawbacks;
however, those issues aren’t unsolvable. Stores operating
with and providing a cashier-less experience to customers
will absolutely possess an advantage over others as in the
end, what matters most is increasing customer satisfaction
and improving customer experience.
- Arran Calvert
Acknowledging Change
25 April
| 2021 | www.insightssuccess.com

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BFL GROUP
Toufic Kreidieh | Chief Executive Officer
UAE's Best
Retail
Companies
2021
Acknowledging Change
Cashier-less stores:
the next big step for
the retail industry
Timeless Tech
The impact of
modern technology
on the retail sector
2021
vol 04
ISSUE 07

30. Tailoring Tech Solutions with Ease and Expertise
The ongoing COVID-19
pandemic has changed our
way of living. With
maintaining social distancing being the
viable solution, working from home
has become a new normal. With that,
the requirement for computers and tech
parts was also increased.
Microless.com came as among the
retailers for individuals to have their
requirements fulfilled while staying at
home during the pandemic.
In operations for more than 10 years,
the company made its presence online
with a website to widen its reach. The
concept that was a brainchild of
Co-founder Maksim Nadzhar has
helped establish Microless as a
renowned name in the tech-retail
space.
Read the following interview to know
more about the success saga of
Microless, the company's growing
reach, and how it has survived the
ongoing pandemic to come out strong
and widen its range to cater to its
customers with quality products and
services.
Please brief our audience about
Microless.com, its values, and how
the company has been positioned as
a leading player in the retail space.
Microless has been in the market for
over 10 years now as the go-to
destination for everything related to
electronics, computers, gaming PCs,
and all the related accessories. In the
past year, the company has also moved
towards a marketplace format to
expand its list of categories and
products offered by getting trusted
local sellers on board.
This has made Microless even a
stronger player in the market. Our core
values are to provide the best possible
service to the customers, making the
shopping experience easy, hassle-free,
and enjoyable while providing the best
prices and quick service across the
GCC and beyond.
What products does your company
offer, and how are these making an
impact on the industry and your
customers?
The range of products on our website
is growing day by day. Currently,
Microless is focused on everything
related to computers, electronics, and
office-related products.
By offering all the electronics and
computer-related products at affordable
prices in one place with fast delivery,
we have made it easy for customers to
get their latest tech, especially during
these special times with COVID-19.
Brief us about your journey in the
industry.
The initial company started its
operations more than 10 years ago. It
was set up by my father - Khasan
Nadzhar. He always had a passion for
computers and so, he opened a
computer shop in Sharjah, where
people living nearby could come and
buy their computer-related
requirements.
After several years, when I was still
studying in high school, we decided to
launch an online shop where we will
be able to drastically increase our
reach, as well as the variety of products
offered. So, I developed the website
and the system to manage it and started
working on promoting it. With a strong
belief in the idea and a lot of hard
work, we have been growing ever
since.
Being an experienced leader, share
with us your opinion on how the
adaptation of modern technologies
such as AI, big data, and machine
learning has transformed the retail
industry and what more could be
expected in the future?
AI and big data are crucial elements to
growth and success in the modern
environment. Big data lets us find
correlations in huge amounts of data
and based on the findings we can make
changes or tweak the system to
increase the revenue.
AI and machine learning have a huge
impact as well, they allow us to predict
the demand of the products, give
product recommendations to
customers, and much more. Nowadays,
since websites have so much data
about their customer behavior,
websites can give better product
recommendations than a person would.
I see deeper integration with AI and
big data soon across all industries.
.com
28 | April 2021 | www.insightssuccess.com

31. Predictions will be more accurate,
recommendations will be even more
personalized, and chatbots and voice
assistants will be even more
human-like. AI will be everywhere.
Taking into consideration, the
current pandemic, and its impact on
global economies, how are you
driving your company to sustain
operations and ensuring the safety of
your employees at the same time?
The pandemic has affected millions of
businesses around the globe. It meant
for many businesses that they have to
digitize and move to the online space
to survive. Since we are already an
e-commerce company, the pandemic
did not affect us negatively, in fact, it
gave our business a boost, as many
people have to work from home and
make purchases online.
To ensure the safety of the employees,
some employees were allowed to work
from home, thus reducing the number
of people on the premises and allowing
for social distancing. The reduced
number of customers visiting physical
stores and face masks have contributed
to the safety of employees as well.
What would be your advice to
budding entrepreneurs who aspire to
venture into the retail space?
Competition is strong, you have to be
unique and provide a fantastic
customer experience and service. Make
use of the latest technologies to be
informed about the ever-changing
product demand, market prices. And,
of course, people should easily find
you for which you need a strong and
right marketing approach.
How do you envision scaling your
company's operations and offerings
in 2021?
More automation, AI, and big data to
streamline the business processes,
minimize errors, and improve the user
experience and customer service. Also,
we are actively launching new
categories on the website.
By offering all the electronics
and computer-related
products at affordable prices
in one place with fast
delivery, we have made it
easy for customers to get
their latest tech, especially
during these special times
with COVID-19.
“
“
Maksim Nadzhar
Co-Founder
UAE's Best Retail Companies 2021
29 | April 2021 | www.insightssuccess.com

32. The impact of
modern technology
on the
retail sector
30 | April 2021 | www.insightssuccess.com

33. nline shopping and digital businesses have
Obecome new normal today. Although people have
been buying online for over a decade, a certain
group of people was apprehensive of adopting the
technological advancements.
However, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic forced
everyone from consumers to businesses to explore and
embrace the power of digital. This has further made e-
commerce more popular among consumers being the
biggest way for retail businesses to survive the pandemic.
On the other hand, technological advancement also made a
bigger impact on the traditional retail market. Traditional
businesses with no e-commerce presence have already
experienced severe damage with slow business,
bankruptcy, and some even have close the shutter forever,
And this is when the e-commerce sector contributed 10%
to the global retail sector in 2019. With social distancing
and online shopping becoming the new normal post-
pandemic, the retail sector is to experience a bigger impact
of e-commerce and other technologies.
The retail revolution has already started and here how it has
impacted the industry so far.
E-commerce expansion in the retail sector
Big brands and global organizations have already seen the
changing market trends and consumer behavior. Thus,
many who invested in technology supporting e-commerce,
have seen significant revenue growth. The observations by
eMarketer about the US e-commerce sector reaching 14.5%
of retail sales in 2020 highlights the e-commerce expansion
in the retail sector.
The recent shift in trends and the pandemic situation have
also encouraged small retailers to invest in relevant
technologies that provide quick results. Retailers who have
adopted and continued to show mature eCommerce
capabilities have experienced rapid online growth
prudently accelerating their investments to deliver a better
digital customer experience.
Timeless Tech
31 | April 2021 | www.insightssuccess.com

34. Data influence in understanding customer behavior
Retailers have always been on-point to collect data from the
sales perspective. Many have been diligently running
complex analytics to understand the customer preference of
products, services, and channels.
However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the
location-specific and indoor positioning data that helped
retailers to quickly adapt to new normal to ensure customer
and employee safety. With the help of this data, many
retailers could find it easier to better understand and
manage the movement through the store and dwelling
locations. Many have even adopted the new AI technology
to ensure social distancing at the stores.
Data transfer will continue to be crucial for retailers in the
future to advance their digital aspirations and enhance
customer experiences. Several visionary brands in the retail
sector have already started laying the groundwork for
applications that will be powered by 5G and Wi-Fi 6
technologies.
Moreover, investments in hybrid and multi-cloud also seem
to grow with brands’ increased need of collecting,
analyzing, and utilizing data to understand and act upon
changing market trends and consumer behavior.
Improved supply chain
COVID-19 has hit the global economy hard, and the retail
sector continues to experience the severe impact of the
pandemic. Along with the changing consumer behavior,
unprecedented disruption of the supply chain has affected
retail businesses across the world.
While many consumers have to face stock-outs on many
grocery and cleaning supplies, other retail businesses have
been experiencing snail-slow sales due to the fear of
infection and a series of lockdowns and restrictions.
Technology again came forward to mitigate these issues.
Retailers adjusted the secured supplies and added more
stock by redirecting inventories. In fact, a recent study was
done by the University of Warwick and Blue Yonder
highlighted the importance of investing in creating flexible
and automated supply chains.
This points out the involvement and impact of technologies
such as AI and machine learning on the retail sector.
Moreover, e-commerce quickly adopting these technologies
to enhance transparency such as informing the consumer
about the delivery partner’s temperature in real-time during
the COVID-19 has been among the major game-changers.
Technology will play more key roles in helping businesses
navigate disruptions and enhance the consumer experience.
Technological investment – The future of retail
COVID-19 accelerated the humans’ walk towards the
digital era and every industry and sector across the world is
already experiencing the technological impact. However,
understanding the technology’s role in future growth rather
than seeing it as a situational opportunity to survive the
pandemic is the catch.
Don’t know where to start with creating or re-assessing
your technological presence post the pandemic? Analyzing
the IT cost behind these technologies could be a great start.
Remember, like a car, every technology comes with certain
repair and maintenance and needs a dedicated team of one
or more experts to get it running.
Understand and analyze the innovations in the retail sector
and invest in the right technology that serves your business
goals and consumers’ expectation. Falling prey to
technological trends or blindly following paths the same as
your competitors or ideal brands will only lead you to
unnecessary struggles and losses.
- Vrushali R.
32 | April 2021 | www.insightssuccess.com

36. Sawaya
International LLC
A Leading Player in Global Retail Space
olors, like features, follow the
Cchanges of the emotions."
Picasso had said. Colors,
whether on canvas or skin, express
emotions. Different tints, hues, and
shades tell different stories, and when
it comes to finding perfect shades for
your nails, Gelish and Morgan Taylor
are among the names that instantly pop
up in mind. Although the pioneer of the
nail industry is in America, the brand
has a worldwide reach enabling their
consumers in different countries to
receive the rich experience of their
beauty products thanks to their
regional distributors.
Sawaya International LLC has been
one such exclusive regional distributor
to the global beauty brands Gelish and
Morgan Taylor for over 20 years. With
an eye for choosing the best quality of
beauty products, CEO Fadi Sawaya
founded Sawaya Group in 1990 with
solid determination to distribute
professionally and to operate with the
integrity of a handshake.
Today, the company has established
itself as an exclusive distributor for
global brands in the Mena region and
Africa as well as a developer and
distributor for its two signature brands
worldwide.
The genesis of Sawaya
As the company started to work on its
wider reach on and offline, several
companies were established along with
multiple hubs. Over the years, valuable
digital experience was acquired from
which Sawaya Group adapted to and is
currently developing its digital shift
among all its divisions; retail,
education, consultancy and of course
marketing. This is what keeps this
company distinguished and reliable.
"We constantly attempt to study what is
lacking in the market and fill the need,
whether it concerns physical
appearance, quality, value, service,
education, and even an adaptation of
culture! With the digital age we're
living, speed and originality is key"
Fadi explains further,
Led by Fadi's ambitious vision, market
experience, and zeal to cater to
consumers, Sawaya Int'l LLC has
moved from being a regional
distributor of the international brands
to being the creator and innovator of
its' own makeup line; Provoc and
eyelashes extension brand; Clashes.
Technology to transform
Technology has touched almost every
industry and transformed the way
people consume products and services
today. AI, AR, and digital media
especially have incepted the behavioral
changes in consumers who now
demand a different approach and more
personalized experience from brands.
This has certainly made the market
competition tougher for businesses.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has
further accelerated the technology in
various business operations including
sales and delivery systems as well as
business operations. Realizing the
demand of the current situation, many
businesses are readily adopting
technology to further scale their
operations. "Sawaya Group has big
plans for this transformational era and
will be revealing them when time is
right," says Fadi.
While many businesses are coming out
of the COVID shadow survival during
the series of lockdown was difficult for
many. Talking about how Sawaya
Group tackled this challenge and
continued business operation Fadi said,
“ “
We identify,
sell, advertise,
tutor, and
originate.
“
34 | April 2021 | www.insightssuccess.com

37. "We managed to operate from home in
the beginning and slowly went back to
our premises each employee in
separate offices taking all
precautionary measures. We had a
huge drop in sales, which made us
focus on our e-commerce activity, and
in parallel relied on international sales
for overhead support.”
Voyaging towards new horizons
Post-pandemic Sawaya Group is set to
move forward with new zeal and plans
to expand the company's reach. The
company plans to expand and blossom
with all its upcoming assets by 2022.
"Our new project will be the sprout to
scale the coming Sawaya Group
transformation," says Fadi.
While sharing plans for his company
he also took this opportunity to advise
aspiring entrepreneurs designing to
venture into retail space. "Focus on the
consumers' conscious and unconscious
needs and wants", Fadi advises, "There
is no longer room and time in this era
for experimentation and errors. Today,
digital/professional expertise, smart
marketing, and fulfilling consumers'
needs quickly are the major factors of
success."
UAE's Best Retail Companies 2021
Fadi Sawaya
CEO
35 | April 2021 | www.insightssuccess.com